stay

Where “stay” sits in English frequency

Definition

1. 1
   To remain in a particular place, especially for a definite or short period of time; sojourn; abide.
2. 2
   To continue to have a particular quality.
3. 3
   To prop; support; sustain; hold up; steady.
4. 4
   To support from sinking; to sustain with strength; to satisfy in part or for the time.
5. 5
   To stop or delay something.
6. 6
   To stop or delay something.
7. 7
   To stop or delay something.
8. 8
   To stop or delay something.
9. 9
   To hold the attention of.
10. 10
    To bear up under; to endure; to hold out against; to resist.
11. 11
    To wait for; await.
12. 12
    To remain for the purpose of; to stay to take part in or be present at (a meal, ceremony etc.).
13. 13
    To rest; depend; rely.
14. 14
    To stop; come to a stand or standstill.
15. 15
    To come to an end; cease.
16. 16
    To dwell; linger; tarry; wait.
17. 17
    To make a stand; to stand firm.
18. 18
    To hold out, as in a race or contest; last or persevere to the end; to show staying power.
19. 19
    To wait; rest in patience or expectation.
20. 20
    To wait as an attendant; give ceremonious or submissive attendance.
21. 21
    To live; reside.

Etymology

From Middle English steyen, staien, from Old French estayer, estaier (“to fix, prop up, support, stay”), from estaye, estaie (“a prop, stay”), from Middle Dutch staeye (“a prop, stay”), a contracted form of staede, stade (“a prop, stay, help, aid”) (compare Middle Dutch staeyen, staeden (“to make firm, stay, support, hold still, stabilise”)), from Proto-West Germanic *stadi (“a site, place, location, standing”), from Proto-Germanic *stadiz (“a standing, place”), from Proto-Indo-European *stéh₂tis (“standing”). Influenced by Old English stæġ ("a stay, rope"; see below). Cognate with Old English stede (“a place, spot, locality, fixed position, station, site, standing, status, position of a moving body, stopping, standing still, stability, fixity, firmness, steadfastness”), Swedish stödja (“to prop, support, brace, hold up, bolster”), Icelandic stöðug (“continuous, stable”). More at stead, steady. Sense of "remain, continue" may be due to later influence from Old French ester, esteir (“to stand, be, continue, remain”), from Latin stāre (“stand”), from the same Proto-Indo-European root above; however, derivation from this root is untenable based on linguistic and historical grounds. An alternative etymology derives Old French estaye, estaie, from Frankish *stakā, *stakō (“stake, post”), from Proto-Germanic *stakô (“stake, bar, stick, pole”), from Proto-Indo-European *(s)teg- (“rod, pole, stick”), making it cognate with Old English staca (“pin, stake”), Old English stician (“to stick, be placed, lie, remain fixed”). Cognate with Albanian shtagë (“a long stick, a pole”). More at stake, stick.

This word in other languages

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as: saty,sstay,stayy,sttay,stya,tsay

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

How far each generated variant is from the correct spelling of stay - measured in single-character edits (insert, delete, or substitute a letter). Larger bars are easier to catch; one-edit slips are the sneakiest.

Frequently Asked Questions